With the singularly outsized saxophone and clarinet personality of Mat Walerian in the mix for ‘Sonic Fiction,’ Matthew Shipp has found a plenty good justification for going back to a quartet.

Conceived as it was played, ‘Vessel In Orbit’ is unpredictable, melodic and has form built around emotion not formal structures. When it’s done by such elastic artists like Dickey, Shipp and Maneri, it all comes together beautifully.

Ivo Perelman ha s meeting of the minds with drummer Whit Dickey in exploring what is possible on a tenor saxophone thanks to the innovations of his forebears.

‘To Duke’ is a madly clever tribute to Duke Ellington from the Matthew Shipp Trio.

As we’re reminded with the just-issued Root of Things, Matthew Shipp, Michael Bisio and Whit Dickey make up one of the most formidable acoustic trios in jazz of this day and age.

As I listen to pianist Matthew Shipp’s latest release, there’s a part of me that finds it difficult to not be unduly influenced by the knowledge that Shipp thinks that Stanley Crouch is a horse’s ass. That influence is hard to ignore, since one of the qualities of Shipp’s pronouncements is total honesty. A beautiful and rare thing.

There are thoughtful pianists who play from the brain and passionate pianists who play from the heart. Matthew Shipp’s distinction has been that he’s always been a thoughtful pianist who plays from the heart.

And so we reach the final piece of the Ivo Perelman/Matt Shipp trilogy of April, 2013. The Edge is where Perelman fronts Shipp’s widely renowned trio for the first time ever (though he has performed with bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey on separate occasions).